After a very busy couple of months, I've taken a couple of week's vacation to my wife's homeland: Thailand. It's been a wonderful chance to re-visit this country and culture that I've come to know so well.
On my return to The States in a few days, I plan on getting back "on the wagon" and resuming my blogging on a more regular basis. There's plenty to share, ranging from issues of concussions, to sudden death in athletes, to "Exercise Deficit Disorder," and more.
In the mean time, I thought I'd share this short news item on the ubiquity of the obesity phenomenon: Buddhists in Thailand are getting ready for their Lent by issuing a challenge to Thais to fast and lose weight!
Underactivity and overweight are not uniquely American problems. The World Health Organization (WHO) has noted that this epidemic is worldwide, and affects 'underdeveloped' countries as well as first world ones.
It's little wonder: as I move around Bangkok I am struck by the lack of sidewalks and of play spaces for kids. In fact, it appears in this city the most likely place to find a playground is in a shopping mall, right next to KFC and McDonald's.
